The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-25
AN IMPORTANT MEASURE.

A Bill Introduced Dealing with the
Rights of Island and Coast Land
Owners
The following bill, which is of interest to
many of our readers, has been introduced
in the State Senate:
A BILL entitled an an act to define the rights Of
the owners of land on islands on the coast of
Georgia and on tide water streams flowing
INTO the interior from such coast, TO prohibit
the catching of oysters at certain seasons TO
provide a method of arrest and the punish
nlent for violation OF the provisions of this
act, and to provide the evidence of ownership
of land which shall be necessary to conviction
under the provisions of this act for violation
thereof and for other purposes
SECTION l. Be it enacted by the General As
sembly of the State of Georgia, and it is hereby
enacted by authority of the same, that from
and after the passage of this act, it shall be
taken and deemed q trespass for any person or
persons to land in boats or other contrivance,
upon the lands of another upon the islands on
the coast OF Georgia or upon tide water streams
entering the interior, navgable III character; and
il SHALL also be deemed and taken as a treSpass
for any person in a boat or other contrvance,
10 enter a tide wafer stream not navigable, run
ming into or through such island land and such
lands on navigahle tide water streams, and af
ter entering such streams it shall be a confirm
ing trespasS TO fish or to catch CLANS or oysters
therein, and punishable as hereinafter provided
IN this act, provided that proof of the written
consent of the owner shall be q sufficient de
tense to a prosecution under the provisions of
this act
SEC =. Be it further enacted that any owner
of land upon ar island on the coast of Georgia,
or upon tide wat + ~ reams entering the interior
from such coast shall have the exclusive right
to take oysters IN natural oyster beds fronting
his lands, to u distance of one hun
dred and twenty feet below low water marx
and the exclusive right to take oysters
from artificial oyster beds planted by him to the
same distance below low water mark, provided
such owner of lands gives notice to the public of
his intention to assert such right by placing on
the shore not more than five hundred yards
apart, posts not less than four feet above the
ground with board thereon not less than
eight inches square with the letter o not less
than six inches in diameter plainly painted
thereon, and any persons catching oysters
within the limits aforesaid upon land so marked
ont shall be deemed guilty of a violation of the
provisions Of this act and punished as herein
after provided in this act
SEC. 3. Be il further enacted by the authority
aforesaid that evidence of actual possession of
any portion of liud held under color of title
shall be sufficient evidence of ownership for the
purposes of this acc to all lands embraced
within the boundaries of the color title under
which such land Is claimed where such actual
possession has been continuous for one year
prior to the prosecution in which IL becomes
necessary to prove II.
SIC T. Re il further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, that any person catching oysters BY
any devce whatever in any of the navigable
waters of tas State. between the list of May and
the list of September of each year, except for
the purpose of replantng the same) shall be
deemed guilty of q violation of the provisions OF
this act and punished as hereinafter provided in
this act.
SEC. s. Be ii further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, that any person a citizen of the
State of Georgia, who detects a person in the
violation of any of the provisions of this act is
hereby authorized Ia arrest such person without
waiting 10 procure a warrant and carry
him before judicial officer and have
which the person so arrested snail be tried as in
other cases of misdemeanor
SEC. G. Be il further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, That the punishment for a violation
of any of the provisions of this act shall be q,
prescribed in section 1910 of the Code
SEC. :. Be il further enacted, That all lawi
and parts of laws in conflict with this act b,
and the same are hereby repealed